It can be very frustrating when you try to switch on your Samsung TV, but it won’t turn on. So, what causes this issue? How can you solve it?
Your Samsung TV could fail to turn on due to a faulty power supply or if the power cable isn’t firmly plugged in. You can quickly resolve this issue by unplugging the TV, then plugging it back into the wall socket, or trying another power outlet. Past that, you’ll need to contact the manufacturer.
Let’s get into the details of the various troubleshooting tips for this problem and also look at the average repair cost for a Samsung TV that won’t turn on.
How Long Does a Samsung TV Last?
Determining the lifespan of a Samsung TV mostly boils down to the set you have. Modern Samsung TVs, LCDs, and LEDs can last 7-8 years. Plasma TVs, in contrast, have a higher lifespan- the highest life expectancy of modern TV sets.
The main reason why Samsung TVs last longer is because the manufacturer uses top-quality parts and components to make them. With such excellent parts, the manufacturer can confidently give a high rough estimate of the TVs’ lifespan.
However, this doesn’t mean that those figures are indisputable. Many things could happen over time that affects the life of your TV significantly. Therefore, your TV’s life expectancy will generally depend on how much you take care of it.
What Causes a Samsung TV to Not Turn On?
Sometimes the Samsung TV may fail to turn on, and the red light is off, and it might also not turn on, but the red light is flashing. Let’s look at what could cause these issues:
Samsung TV Won’t Turn On, and Red Light is Off
If your Samsung TV isn’t turning on and the red light is neither on nor flashing, this could be due to the TV not receiving power. Likely, the power cable isn’t firmly plugged into the TV or the power source.
If you’re wondering whether an electric shock might have fried your TV’s circuit board, and that’s why it won’t turn on, that might not be the case since, at the very least, the red light should flash to show something is wrong.
Samsung TV Won’t Turn On, and Red Light is Flashing
Here is why a Samsung TV won’t turn on and the red light is flashing:
Faulty Power Supply
Any television, not only a Samsung TV, won’t work if the power supply is damaged. For example, your TV’s power supply might be defective due to an electric shock caused by a lightning storm.
Lightning can travel through the wiring in your home and damage any device connected directly to the AC outlet. For example, if your TV is one of those devices plugged into the outlet, it won’t be able to handle the power overload, and its circuit boards will be fried.
It’s also possible that the TV came off the box with a faulty power supply unit. This doesn’t happen often, but we can’t rule out the probability.
HDMI Hitch
There are instances where gaming consoles prevent Samsung TVs from turning on due to an HDMI glitch. This mainly occurs if you power off your console directly without swapping the HDMI input source.
Faulty Surge Protector
A Surge protector is plugged directly into the AC outlet. Therefore, it could also run into problems that, in turn, could affect your TV if it’s connected to it.
Poor Connection at the Power Source
Your TV may not turn on because you’ve not connected it properly to the power source or plugged it into a damaged socket. Unfortunately, it’s a relatively common mistake you must first check before jumping to conclusions.
Why Won’t Your Samsung TV Turn On, but Red Light is On?
Your Samsung TV won’t turn on, but the red light is on because the launch configurations could be altered and need to be reset. It also won’t turn on if you’ve plugged the TV into the wrong source or if you haven’t plugged it in correctly.
You can test if everything is working correctly by tapping the screen. For example, if it blinks, the TV is okay but not displaying an image.
How Do You Fix a Samsung TV that Won’t Turn On?
Here are a few troubleshooting tips for a Samsung TV that won’t turn on:
Inspect the Power Cord
If your TV is plugged into a power source yet isn’t turning on, try checking if the power cable is damaged. Look for strange bends and signs of wearing out.
Also, check if the connector pins on your TV are damaged, as this could prevent the circuit from completing. If that’s not the cause, find a similar cable and test it to see if the TV turns on.
Unplug and Replug the TV
Though quite obvious, unplugging and plugging back your Samsung TV into the wall socket is the quickest way to make it turn on. Unplug the TV, then press and hold its power button for around 30 seconds. Hold the power button on the TV and not your remote.
Holding the power button on the TV drains any residual power, allowing it to reset subtly, which is different from using the remote.
Wait for 60 seconds, plug it back in, then try turning it on. This solution has a high success rate for most Samsung TV issues, so the chances are that it could fix the problem.
Try Another Power Outlet
If the problem persists, it would be best to try plugging your Samsung TV into another power outlet. But, unfortunately, the power outlet could have blown a fuse or short, making your TV misbehave.
Alternatively, you could use a smaller appliance to test your TV’s power outlet. If the device turns on, the outlet isn’t the culprit.
Confirm Your TV isn’t on Standby/Sleep Mode
If your Samsung TV won’t turn on, but the red light is on or flashing, try pressing any button on the remote as your TV might have gone into sleep mode.
If the TV isn’t on standby, it won’t turn on, probably because the logic board might be faulty or the LCD or LED panel is dead. In that case, you’ll have to take your TV to the repair shop or contact the Samsung service center.
Disconnect Media Devices Preventing the TV from Turning On
Unplug any media devices connected to your TV, then try switching on the TV. You might be facing the issue due to power interruptions from other media devices like Blu-ray players and gaming consoles, which could be preventing power from getting to the TV.
Choose the Correct Input Source
Your TV might appear not to turn on because of a wrong input source. You must select the correct input source for the TV to work correctly. Therefore, ensure that your streaming device, cable box, or DVD player is plugged into the HDMI port you’ve selected as the input source on the TV.
Inspect the Relay
The TV also won’t turn on if the power board is defective. If you have some tech skills and are comfortable working with electronics, you can remove the backplate on your TV and check the relay. Most modern TVs have an LED on the relay that indicates if it’s working or not.
If your Samsung TV doesn’t have an LED, you can remove the relay and check for damages like melted copper connectors.
Inspect the IR Receiver and Transmitter
You can also check the IR receiver and transmitter if your TV doesn’t turn on. Use your smartphone camera to check if the IR transmitter on your TV remote is working.
Point the camera towards the top part of your remote and press any buttons, and if you spot a light flash or blink on the camera, then your IR transmitter is fine.
If your IR transmitter is working, but you still can’t turn on the TV, there could be issues with the IR receiver on your TV, and it might require a repair.
Contact Samsung Support
Suppose all the above solutions haven’t yielded results. In that case, you need to contact Samsung customer support and have an expert guide you through the repair procedure, or if your warranty is still valid, the Samsung team could pick up the TV for repairs or even replace it.
If you purchased your TV from a retail store, you can contact them to set up a repair or replacement.
How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Samsung TV that Won’t Turn On?
There are various types of Samsung TVs on the market, ranging from older LCDs to the newest Smart and 4K TVs. The type determines the repair cost because more advanced Samsung TVs have expensive replacement parts. Additionally, some repairs may not always be possible on certain TV types.
Here’s how much you can expect to part with at the repair shop for different Samsung TVs that won’t turn on:
- LCD TV Repair Cost: Repairs for Samsung LCD TVs cost between $60 and $400. LCD TVs are available in various sizes and styles and are some of the most popular options on the market.
- LED TV Repair Cost: LED TVs are certain LCD TVs that use LED backlights to illuminate the image displayed on the screen. Just like the LCD TVs, the repair cost of LED TVs ranges from $60-400 depending on the extent of the problem.
- 4K TV Repair Cost: 4K TV repair costs around $100-$275. There are various 4K TVs, including ones that use LED and others that use OLED. Generally, a TV can be considered 4K if it has an ultra-high definition. However, these models are expensive to buy and repair, and sometimes repairs may not be available for them.
- OLED TV Repair Cost: Repair costs for the organic light-emitting diodes or OLED TVs are between $100 and $400. These models are a step up from the LED TVs and are expensive to purchase and repair.
- Plasma TV Repair Cost: Repair costs for plasma TVs range between $100 to $400. These models are less popular nowadays, and Samsung stopped making them. If you still have it, though, it’s possible to have a technician repair it, but it might not be easy due to the unavailability of replacement parts.
- Smart TV Repair Cost: Smart TVs are more advanced than others but can still break and call for repairs. Their repair costs are between $100-$400. Although they are more expensive to purchase, they aren’t too costly to repair.
Here’s a breakdown of all these Samsung TVs and their repair costs:
| Samsung TV Type | Average Repair Cost (Including Labor) |
| LCD TV | $60-$400 |
| LED TV | $60-$400 |
| 4K (Ultra HD) TV | $100-$275 |
| OLED TV | $100-$400 |
| Plasma TV | $100-$400 |
| Smart TV | $100-$400 |